Talking book and interactive talking toy figure

ABSTRACT

A talking book is combined with a talking, animated toy figure. Each includes a sound synthesizer, a digital memory including at least some speech data to be used by the synthesizer to produce speech and a processor to control the operations of the synthesizer. Each includes a speaker coupled with the synthesizer to actually produce speech and other sounds. The book includes two outer covers and two inner pages, each with some printing. Depressible switches are provided on the inner covers to cue the processor to generate sounds appropriate to the print near the depressed cover switch. Switches in a hinge pin received in hinge rings provided each cover and page to join the covers and pages together are depressed by cam surfaces inside the ring of the front cover and each page and signal, the processor the configuration of the book. In addition to generating its own speech, the book processor transmits a control signal to the processor of the toy figure cuing that processor to generate control signals to generate the appropriate sound and/or sound by the figure synthesizer and/or animation control signals to animate the toy figure. Thus, actions of the toy figure are coordinated with the information provided in the book.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/498,051, entitled “Talking Book and Interactive Talking ToyFigure”, filed Feb. 4, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates, in part, to talking books. A wide varietyof talking books are known and are disclosed in numerous U.S. Patentsincluding at least U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,809,246; 5,356,292; 5,417,575;5,419,705; 5,494,292; 5,645,436; and 5,803,748. On the other hand, anumber of other U.S. Patents disclose different technology and schemesfor generating speech from toy figures, i.e. dolls, plush animals, etc.For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,752,880 and 5,636,994 disclose wirelesscontrol of the speech and/or action of a toy figure by a conventional,personal computer with appropriate software. U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,693discloses a system in which toy figure control signals are imbedded inthe video signal of a video tape and are removed by a controllerassociated with the video tape player and transmitted without wires to atoy figure having a receiver configured to receive them. The signalscause the figure to generate speech which relates to the video programbeing generated. A hand controller is provided to permit additionalsignals to be sent to the toy by the user for the toy to synthesize itsown speech and other sounds. U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,131 discloses a systememploying pager transmission technology for simultaneous remote controlof several widely spaced devices which may be toy figures. The systemcan cause the same message to be generated by all receiving devices orspecific messages to be generated by different devices.

[0003] It is believed that a new and different form of play andeducational activity can be created by combining and coordinating speechgeneration in a book and a toy figure to provide an interactivecompanion/playmate to the child using the book and an unusual remotecontrol for the toy figure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Briefly stated, the present invention is a talking book. Thetalking book comprises a hinge pin, a plurality of book leaves, aprocessor, at least a first leaf position indicating switch, at leastfirst and second mode switches, a memory, and a speaker. The pluralityof book leaves include a front leaf, a back leaf, and at least one leaftherebetween. At least two of the plurality of leaves are pivotablyengaged with the hinge pin at one end of each leaf. Each pivotablymounted leaf is movable between two positions on first and secondlateral sides of the hinge pin. The processor is configured to generateat least a first control signal and a second control signal to at leastinitiate speech generation by the talking book. The at least first leafposition indicating switch operably is coupled with the processor andresponsive to a pivotal position of at least a first one of thepivotably engaged leaves with respect to the hinge pin. The at leastfirst leaf position indicating switch indicates whether the first one ofthe leaves is on one of the first and second lateral sides. The at leastfirst and second mode switches are operably coupled with the processor.The memory is operably coupled with the processor and contains at leastsome speech data. The speaker is operably coupled with the processor toreproduce sound including speech.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be betterunderstood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For thepurpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawingsembodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a talking book and talking figurecombination of the present invention in a first configuration.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a talking book and talking figurecombination of the present invention in a second configuration.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a talking book and talking figurecombination of the present invention in a third configuration.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a talking book and talking figurecombination of the present invention in a third configuration.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electrical components of thetalking book.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a partially disassembled perspective view of the talkingbook.

[0012]FIG. 7 is a partially reassembled perspective view of the toybook.

[0013]FIG. 8 is a is a block diagram of the major electrical andelectromechanical components of the toy figure.

[0014]FIG. 9 is a diagram of the major components of the animated headof the toy figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elementsthroughout.

[0016] There is shown in FIG. 1 a talking book indicated generally at 10and a talking, animated toy figure indicated generally at 110, which areinteractive in a manner to be described. In particular, they are coupledby a communication link indicated diagrammatically by broken line 12.Talking book 10 includes a front cover 20 and a rear cover 50, bothvisible in FIG. 1. The talking book 10 is a book in a conventional sensein that it contains information in “printed” textual and/or graphic formto be conveyed to a user (other than merely the identity of themanufacturer and/or distributor of the device). The terms “printed”,“printing” and the like are intended to refer broadly to information ina visual form rather than a particular method of providing thatinformation on or in the book. Thus, the term encompasses not merelytext and graphic information press printed directly on the cover orinner page but also embossment or other three-dimensional molding of thecover or inner page or its surface, as well as the use of press printedlabels, decals and foils which are attached to the covers or inner pagesof the book. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the talking book 10depicted includes a first inner page 30 with printing indicateddiagrammatically by broken lines 31 and 32 on its first and secondrespective sides and a second inner page 40 with printing indicateddiagrammatically by broken lines 41 and 42 on its first and secondrespective sides. In this embodiment 10, the pages 30 and 40 are nestedwithin the inner sides of the front and rear covers 20 and 50. Frontcover 20 bears its own printing indicated by broken line 22, on itsinner side, and may bear printing on its outer side (not depicted). Therear cover includes printing indicated by broken line 51 on its innerside. The covers 20 and 50 and pages 30 and 40 collectively constitutethe “leaves” of book 10.

[0017]FIG. 5 depicts in block diagram form, the operativeelectromechanical components of the talking book 10. The majorelectrical components includes a sound synthesizer 60, a memory 62,preferably digital, which is operatively coupled with the synthesizer60, and which contains at least some speech data, and a processor 64,which operably connects the synthesizer 60 and memory 62. The processor64 is configured to control the synthesizer 60 in the generation ofsounds (including speech) by the synthesizer 60 from digital dataselected from memory 62. A speaker 66 is operably coupled with thesynthesizer 60 to reproduce speech and/or other sounds (e.g., music,sound effects, etc.) based upon analog signals outputted by thesynthesizer 60. Preferably, processor 64 of the talking book 10 isfurther configured to generate at least speech control signals, whichcan be transmitted to the talking toy FIG. 110 to at least initiate thegeneration of speech and/or other sounds by the synthesizer of that toy,as will be explained. To that end, the talking book 10 is preferablyconfigured with a transmitter portion of the communication link 12.Preferably, talking book 10 is provided with a wireless, radio frequencytransmitter 70 operably coupled with and controlled by the processor 64to transmit control signals generated by the processor 64 to the talkingtoy FIG. 110. In addition or in the alternative, the processor 64 may befurther provided with a plug connector 74 to provide a hard wirecommunication link between the talking book 10 and toy FIG. 110, ifdesired.

[0018] The talking book 10 is further provided with a plurality ofswitches, suggestedly mechanical for simplicity, which can be used tocontrol the operation of the toy book 10 and, indirectly, the toy FIG.110. Preferably, manually actuated, momentary contact switch 76 and 78are provided on the inner side of the front and rear covers 20 and 50,respectively (see FIGS. 1 and 3). In addition, three spring-loaded,depressible switches 82, 84 and 86 are provided and are controlled bythe position of the front cover 20 and first and second pages 30 and 40,respectively, with respect to the rear cover 50 in a manner to bedescribed in connection with the following figures. Battery power supply68 powers all of the electrical components.

[0019]FIG. 6 depicts a suggested mechanical construction of talking book10. The front and rear covers 20, 50 and first and second interior pages30, 40 are held together by means of a hinge pin 80. Rear cover 50includes hinge pin receiving rings 53, 54, at its extreme upper andlower ends. The front cover 20, first page 30 and second page 40 eachalso include a pair of pin receiving rings 23, 24, 33, 34 and 43, 44,respectively. The hinge rings 23, 24 abut rings 53, 54, respectively,while rings 33, 34, 43, 44 are alternating so that they may beinterfitted with one another and between the rings 53, 54, 23, 24 of therear and front covers 50, 20, to fully surround the hinge pin 80. Hingepin 80 is hollow and contains the three, spring-loaded, depressibleswitches 82, 84 and 86. Plungers 83, 85 and 87 protrude from each switchthrough the circumferential wall of the hinge pin 80. One ring 23, 33and 43 of each of the front cover 20, first page 30 and second page 40overlaps a plunger 83, 85, 87 of a separate one of the switches 82, 84,86, respectively, when the book 10 is fully assembled. Each overlappingring 23, 33 and 43, includes a cam surface 23 a, 33 a and 43 a,respectively, which contacts and depresses its underlying plunger 83,85, 87, respectively, only when that cover or page is rotated apredetermined amount away from rear cover 50. Depression of plunger 83by surface 23 a is indicated in FIG. 7. Suggestedly the rotation isgreater than ninety degrees, more suggestedly greater than 135 degreesand preferably 160 degrees or more away from the closed position againstthe rear cover 50 to depress the plungers 83, 85, 87 and thereby actuatethe respective switches 82, 84, 86. In this way, the processor 64 issensitive to when the book 10 is initially opened and when each of thefirst and second pages 30 and 40 is turned. When none of the switches82, 84, 86 are depressed, the processor 64 consider the book 10 to beclosed. Knowing these states of the front cover and inner pages, theprocessor 64 is able to respond to the depression of either inner cover,momentary contact switch 76, 78 to select and generate a speech or othersound bite appropriate to the information printed on the inner cover orside of the page overlying the inner cover mounting the depressed switch76 or 78. Suggestedly, the front cover 20 is hollow and made of a pairof interfitted shells or a main shell and one or more smaller coverpanels to permit the mounting of the momentary contact switch. Rearcover 50 is suggestedly formed from a pair of shells and may be used tocontain all of the electrical and electromechanical components otherthan the switch 76 on the inside of the front cover 20 and thedepressible switches 82, 84, and 86 in the hinge pin 80. Switches 76,82, 84 and 86 are connected to the processor 64 in the rear cover 50 bywires passed throughout the front cover and hinge area of the book. Thehinge pin 80 can be retained in the rings by an end cap 90 preferablyreleasably secured to the lower end of the pin 80 by a suitable fastener92.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the major electromechanicalcomponents of the talking, animated toy FIG. 110, which are locatedwithin the toy FIG. 110. The components include a synthesizer 160 forgenerating speech and/or other sounds, a memory 162, preferably digital,operably coupled with the synthesizer 160 and a processor 164 operablycoupled with the memory 162 and synthesizer and operably coupling thosetwo elements together. The synthesizer 160 is preferably operablyconnected with a speaker 166. Again, a battery power supply 168 powersall of the electrical components. The toy FIG. 110 includes the receiverportion of the transmission link 12, preferably in the form of awireless, radio frequency receiver 170 operably coupled with theprocessor 164 and with the synthesizer 160 and memory 162 through theprocessor 164. Memory 162 contains at least speech data and may containdata for the generation of other, non-speech sounds. It may also containthe operating program of the processor and any other data used by theprocessor in operating the toy FIG. 110. Alternatively, a separatememory may be provided for processor programs and/or related data. Thetoy FIG. 110 preferably includes an actuator indicated generally at 120in FIGS. 8 and 9, which is operably coupled with some portion of the toyFIG. 110 to animate the portion of the toy FIG. 110 when the actuator isoperated. Suggestedly, actuator 120 includes a reversible motor 174operably coupled with the processor 164 by a motor control circuit 176.The motor control circuit 176 is responsive to control level signalsfrom the processor 164 to supply more powerful current from the batterypower supply 168 to the motor 174. A plug connector 188 may be providedin place of or in addition to the wireless receiver 170 for a hard wirecommunication link between the toy FIG. 110 and the talking book 10.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the depicted toy FIG. 110 has a conventionalset of anatomical elements including a head 112 on a body 114 supportinga pair of arms 116, 117 and a pair of legs 118, 119. Preferably theanimated portion of the toy figure is in the head 112. FIG. 9 depicts,in diagrammatic form, one possible construction for animating portionsof the head 112 of the toy FIG. 110. An actuator 120 including thereversible motor 174 is mounted in a frame 124 within the soft outercover of the head 112 of the toy FIG. 110. Further movably mounted tothe frame 124 is a generally cylindrical member 126 which is positionedand oriented to rotate about a generally horizontal axis 128 such thatits circumferential outer surface defines eyelids 127 of the toy FIG.110. Further mounted for pivotal movement on the frame 124 are a pair oflevers 130, 132, which are located within soft, flexible ears 131, 133,respectively, of the head 112. Actuator 120 further includes a linkageindicated generally at 122 which operably couples the reversibleelectric motor 174 with the eyelid cylinder 126 and ear levers 130, 132.As used herein, “linkage” is intended to indicate broadly a motiontransferring mechanism which is not limited specifically to rigid,elongated links. In this instance, linkage 122 includes a first gear 128in the form of a worm driven by a worm gear 175 on reversible motor 174and driving a second gear 140 in the form of a second worm gear and athird worm gear, not seen coplanar. With and behind the second worm gear140. Frame 124 further supports a plate 142 for vertical movement. Theear levers 130, 132 are pivotally supported from the frame with tongues130 a, 132 a, which are received in slot 144 a, 144 b, respectively, onopposite lateral sides of the plate 142. Second worm gear 140 issuggestedly coaxial with and abutting the side of eyelid cylinder 126 todirectly rotate the cylinder 126 by friction. The hidden worm gearraises and lowers plate 142 by means of a rack 148 on plate 142. Ifdesired, positional switches 152, 154 and 156 can be located along thepath of movement of plate 142 to be contacted and closed when the plate142 as indicated in phantom in FIG. 9 to control the raising andlowering of plate 142 and, indirectly, the rotation of cylinder 126, toraise or lower the ears 131, 133 and the eyelids 127 to appropriatedegrees.

[0022] Operation of the talking book 10 and talking, animated toy FIG.110 will now be described. It should be appreciated that each device,the book 10 and the toy FIG. 110 can be operated and played withseparately. When the book 10 is closed, the electrical circuitry ispreferably in a sleep mode with the processor 64 powered down awaiting asignal from one of the spring loaded, depressible switches 82, 84, 86indicating that the book 10 has been opened. The processor 64 may beprogrammed in a variety of ways to respond to different switchactivations. One possible scenario is that when the front cover 20 opensand depresses the first switch 82, the book processor 64 generatessignals controlling the book synthesizer 60 to generate a first soundbite, which may or may not be speech, using data from the book memory62. At the same time, the book processor 64 transmits a control signalfrom its transmitter 70 through the communications link 12 to thereceiver 170 forming the other end of the link in the toy FIG. 110. Thecontrol signal is passed from the receiver 170 to the figure processor164 which, is programmed to produce a response in the toy FIG. 110. Thisresponse may include the generation of a sound bite with the figuresynthesizer 160 using data from the figure memory 162 or operation ofthe actuator 120 to raise plate 142 and rotate cylinder 126 to raise theears 131, 133, respectively, of the figure, or both. The processor 164monitors the switches 182, 184, 186 and turns off the motor 174 when theplate 142 and gear 140 have reached the maximum extent of their desiredmovement.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, the user can depress either switch 76, 78 inbook 10 to initiate a response from the book 10 and/or the toy FIG. 110.In one scenario, the book processor 64 is configured to respond to thedepression of only the first hinge pin switch 82 by the front cover andthe momentary contact switch 76 in the front cover 20 to generate aspeech bite which relates to the information 22 printed on the inside ofthe front cover 20. It similarly responds to a depression of the rearcover switch 78 through openings 36 and 46, which overlying that switchand extend through the inner pages 30, 40, to generate a speech biteusing the synthesizer 60 and speech data from the memory 62, whichcorresponds to the information contained in the printing 31 on the firstside of the first page 30 visible in FIG. 1. The book processor 64 canbe configured to generate control signals transmitted through thecommunication link 12 to the processor 164 in the toy FIG. 110. Theprocessor 164 can be configured to also generate a sound bite which maybe speech, music, a sound effect or any other sound, and may further beconfigured to operate the actuator 120 to move the ears 131, 133 andeyelids cylinder 126, for example, momentarily raise and lower the ears131, 133 and eyelids 127 from and to their original raised position inFIG. 1 in response to a control signal from book processor 64.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, when the first page 30 is turned, the bookprocessor 64 may be configured to transmit a control signal via the link12 to the processor 164 of the toy FIG. 110 which responds by operatingthe actuator 120 to reverse motor 174 to drop plate 142 and rotate wormgear 140 until the second switch 184 is released, at which time power tothe motor 174 is halted. This is depicted in FIG. 2. The eyelids 127 andears 131, 133 are lowered somewhat from their positions in FIG. 1. Thebook processor 64 can also be configured to automatically generate asound bite in response to the depression of the second hinge pin switch84 caused by turning of the first page 30. With the book 10 in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 2, the processor 64 is suggestedlyprogrammed to respond to the momentary depression of either cover switch76, 78 by generating a sound bite which is appropriate for theinformation contained in the printing 32 on the second side of the firstpage 30 or the printing 41 on the first side of the second page 40,respectively.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, when the second page 40 is rotated away fromthe rear cover 50, the book processor 64 generates and transmits yetanother control signal via the communication link 12 to the receiver 170of the toy FIG. 110. The figure processor 164 responds to thetransmitted control signal in some way, suggestedly powering the motor174 to further lower plate 142 and rotate second worm gear 140 coupledto cylinder 126 to further “lower” the eyelids 127 and ears 131, 133.Again, a sound bite may be generated by the processor 164 using thesynthesizer 160 and data from the memory 162. Again, book 10 responds tothe depression of the third hinge pin switch 86 by the cam surface 43 aof the second page 40 to generate appropriate sound bites for thedepression of either cover switch 76, 78.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, when the book 10 is again completely closed,the book processor 64 responds to the release of all three switches 82,84, 86, recognizing that the book 10 has been closed. In the describedembodiment, processor 64 generates a control signal sent throughtransmitter 70 via the link 12 to receiver 17 of the toy FIG. 110.Figure processor 164 responds to the book processor 64 control signal inan appropriate manner, for example, by supplying power to the motor 174to lower plate 140 to its lowermost position and rotate second gear 140and cylinder 126 to their other extreme position, thereby lowering theears 131, 133 to their lowest position and fully closing the “eyelids”127. Figure processor 164 may additionally or, in the alternative,generate an appropriate sound through figure synthesizer 160 using sounddata from the memory 162. Processor 64 can also be programmed to controlbook synthesizer 60 to generate its own sound bite from sound generatedin the book memory 62 to indicate closure of the book 10. Aftergenerating both sound bites, the respective processors 64, 164 arepreferably configured to “power down” to await a user control signalfrom one of the user control switches 82, 84, 86 and/or 180.

[0027] It will be appreciated that when the toy FIG. 110 is unconnectedor out of range from the book 10 to break the communication link 12, thebook 10 will operate as described above generating appropriate soundswhen the book is opened or closed, the pages turned and/or inner coverbuttons 76, 78 depressed. It should be appreciated that by provision ofmanually actuated, momentary contact switch 180 in toy FIG. 110 that thefigure controller 164 can be prompted by signals generated from theclosure of the switch 180 to perform the functions it would perform inresponse to control signals generated by processor 64 and transmittedover the link 12. If desired, multiple contact switches can be providedin the toy figure, each corresponding to one of the four differentstates of the toy FIG. 110 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4.Alternatively, the toy figure processor 164 can be programmed to respondwith one of the four states, either serially or randomly, to eachsuccessive depression of the contact switch 180.

[0028] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changescould be made to the embodiments described above without departing fromthe broad inventive concept thereof. For example, while the book 10controls the actions of the toy FIG. 110, the combination componentscould be configured to control the actions of the book, particularly thegeneration of sound bites, through the toy figure. While the toy figurehas been programmed to perform a sequence of actions, both soundgeneration and animation, in a predetermined order in response tosequential closures of a manually activated switch 180, the toy figureprocessor 164 could be programmed to perform the same steps in a randomorder in response to depression of the switch 180 or other additionalmomentary closure switches can be provided on the toy figure, forexample, in the other limbs or elsewhere, each controlling a separate,predetermined response (sound generation and/or animation) of the toyfigure. While certain electrical and electromechanical components areshown, other known components which can accomplish the same resultsmight be provided. For example, any of a variety of switches may beemployed, different speakers used, ultra sound or light (e.g.,infrared), wireless links could be used in contrast to radio frequencyand hard wire links already noted, and different actuator arrangementsmight be employed, including liquid crystal displays representinganimated features of the toy figure and other types of mechanicalactuators, including hydraulic, pneumatic and/or magnetic. Whileseparate synthesizer memory and processor components are shown, any twoor all three may be combined into a single element or chip. Thesynthesizer 64, 164, however, would at least include a digital to analogconverter to convert digital sound data into an analog signal used todrive whatever speaker is used. Also, the digital to analog convertercould be collocated with the speaker rather than the processor. It isunderstood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to covermodifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1-12 (Canceled).
 13. A talking book comprising: a hinge pin; a pluralityof book leaves, the leaves including a front leaf, a back leaf, and atleast one leaf therebetween, wherein at least two of the plurality ofleaves are pivotably engaged with the hinge pin at one end of each leaf,each pivotably mounted leaf being movable between two positions on firstand second lateral sides of the hinge pin; a processor configured togenerate at least a first control signal and a second control signal toat least initiate speech generation by the talking book; at least afirst leaf position indicating switch operably coupled with theprocessor and responsive to a pivotal position of at least a first oneof the pivotably engaged leaves with respect to the hinge pin, whereinthe at least first leaf position indicating switch indicates whether thefirst one of the leaves is on one of the first and second lateral sides;at least first and second mode switches operably coupled with theprocessor; a memory operably coupled with the processor and containingat least some speech data; and a speaker operably coupled with theprocessor to reproduce sound including speech.
 14. The talking book ofclaim 13, wherein at least the first leaf position indicating switch islocated inside the hinge pin.
 15. The talking book of claim 14, whereinthe book includes at least a second leaf position indicating switchcoupled with the processor and separately responsive to a pivotalposition of a second one of the pivotally engaged leaves of the bookwith respect to the hinge pin.
 16. The talking book of claim 15, whereinat least the second leaf position indicating switch is located insidethe hinge pin.
 17. The talking book of claim 13 wherein the speaker islocated in one of the front and back leaves.
 18. The talking book ofclaim 13 wherein the processor is located in one of the front and backleaves.
 19. The talking book of claim 13, wherein activation of thefirst mode switch causes the processor to generate the first controlsignal and activation of the second mode switch causes the processor togenerate the second control signal, the first and second control signalsgenerated depending at least, in part, upon a state of the at leastfirst leaf position indicating switch when either of the first andsecond mode switches is activated.
 20. The talking book of claim 19,wherein the book includes at least a second leaf position indicatingswitch and the first and second control signals generated depending atleast, in part, upon states of the at least first and second leafposition indicating switches when either of the first and second modeswitches is activated.
 21. The talking book of claim 20, wherein theplurality of leaf position indicating switches are located in the hingepin.
 22. The talking book of claim 19, wherein the processor generatesthe first control signal to produce a first sound from the speaker forthe first mode and further generates the second control signal toproduce a second sound from the speaker for the second mode.
 23. Thetalking book of claim 22 wherein the first sound relates to informationprinted on a leaf open on the first lateral side and the second soundrelates to information printed on a leaf open on the second lateralside.
 24. The talking book of claim 13, wherein a separate one of the atleast two mode switches is located on each of the front and back leaves.25. The talking book of claim 13 wherein the at least one page has anopening through a portion of the page extending through the page, thelocation of the opening corresponding to the location of at least one ofthe mode switches on one of the front and back leaves, such that themode switch is accessible to a user when the page overlies the one ofthe front and back leaves.
 26. The talking book of claim 13 furthercomprising a wireless signal transmitter operably coupled to theprocessor.
 27. The talking book of claim 13 in combination with aseparate, sound producing device, the separate sound producing devicecomprising: a device processor; a sound synthesizer operably coupled tothe device processor; a device memory operably coupled with the soundsynthesizer and containing at least some sound data; a speaker operablycoupled with the sound synthesizer to reproduce sounds; and acommunications link between the talking book and the sound producingdevice configured to at least transfer sound control signals generatedby the processor of the talking book to initiate sound generation by thesound producing device.
 28. The combination of claim 27, wherein thecommunications link is wireless.
 29. The combination of claim 27,wherein the talking book includes at least one manually actuated switchoperably coupled to the talking book processor to initiate soundgeneration by the talking book processor through the talking bookspeaker and the generation of the sound control signals transferred tothe sound producing device.
 30. The combination of claim 27, wherein theprocessor of the toy item is configured to at least generate speechcontrol signals to initiate speech generation by the sound synthesizerof the sound producing device and at least one manually actuated switchon the sound producing device operably coupled to the device processorto selectively manually initiate the generation of speech by the soundproducing device independently of the talking book.
 31. The combinationof claim 30 wherein the sound producing device further comprises amanually operated switch operably coupled to the device processor to atleast initiate operation of the actuator through the device processor.32. The combination of claim 27, wherein the sound producing deviceincludes an actuator operably coupled with some portion of the soundproducing device to animate the portion of the sound producing devicewhen the actuator is operated and wherein the device processor isoperably coupled with the actuator to operate the actuator to controlanimation of the portion of the sound producing device.
 33. The talkingbook of claim 13 in combination with a separate, animated device, theanimated device comprising: an actuator operably coupled with someportion of the animated device to animate the portion of the animateddevice when the actuator is operated; and a communications link operablycoupling the processor of the talking book with the actuator of theanimated device.
 34. The combination of claim 33, wherein at least aportion of the communications link is wireless.
 35. The combination ofclaim 33, wherein the animated device includes a manually actuatedswitch operably coupled with the actuator to initiate operation of theactuator independently of the talking book.
 36. The combination of claim33, wherein the animated device has a processor and wherein theprocessor of the book is operably coupled to the actuator through thecommunications link including the device processor.
 37. The combinationof claim 36, wherein the animated device has a sound synthesizeroperably coupled to the device processor; a device memory operablycoupled with the sound synthesizer and containing at least some sounddata; and a speaker operably coupled with the sound synthesizer toreproduce sounds.